Haze gray and underway

Today, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) departs on her last cruise. The first ever nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the second-oldest ship in commission with the United States Navy, and the longest warship in the world, the Big E is nothing short of a marvel. Active during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the war in Vietnam and on through the 70s, 80s and 90s, the Enterprise has been present in almost every single conflict the US has been involved in over the last 50 years. When the towers fell on 9/11, the Enterprise was on its way home, though as soon as word was received of the attacks, without orders, the ship returned at flank speed to its station near the Persian Gulf, ready to attack targets in Afghanistan.

The Big E has a ton of history in its hull, and will forever remain the sweetheart of America's modern Navy. There's beauty in the sharp lines of this ship, and though it'll be deactivated later this year, and put through the scrapping process, it will forever hold a place in the hearts of all those touched by its fighting spirit.

Sadly, the Enterprise will not stay afloat as a museum ship, due to the removal of the nuclear fuel, and the costs involved in fixing up the ship, after the reactors are taken out (extremely large portions of the ship will have to be cut out in order to extract the nuclear equipment). However, there is a petition circulating around that a ship of the Gerald Ford class, the CVN-80, be named the 9th USS Enterprise.

(http://www.petitiononline.com/CVN79ENT/petition.html)

 Task Force One, the first nuclear-powered task force, sailed around the world (26,540 nmi) in 65 days!

The Big E during her shakedown cruise.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/03/ap-navy-enterprise-crew-revels-ships-long-history-031012/

RIP

The US naval aviation community has lost another great pilot. Also known as "Lex", the founder of Neptunus Lex (a milblog), retired Captain Carroll LeFon, USN landed a civilian dream job flying former Israeli Kfirs at NAS Fallon (Kfirs are used to simulate MiGs as OPFOR aircraft at Navy Fighter Weapons School, aka TOPGUN). His Kfir crashed on the 6th.

Rest in peace, Lex.

 http://www.neptunuslex.com/

Iceman's Answers: Is special ops for me?

I see this question popping up a lot. I guess, these days, even more often, because of the release of Act of Valor. Everyone wants in on the action, and that's understandable. These guys do some of the most amazing jobs in the world, they get the best training, get use highly advanced equipment, etc. They look awesome, rising from the water with their rifles, or doing HALO or HAHO jumps out the back of C-130s, etc. But, what most don't realize, is that it is a thankless, hard job, that keeps you away from your family for months at a time, and it's extremely dangerous. You don't know that the next operation you go on will be your last, or if you'll ever get to come home to your family.

You have to figure out if you're mentally capable. Physically, the only thing hindering you, will be injuries you've sustained earlier on. Whether they're from sports, or accidents around the house, any injury can hold you back if you go through enough physical activity (a core part of training). Fractures, sprains, weakened joints, muscles, etc, get worsened, easily. Mentally, it's all up to you. Can you handle what your instructors will throw at you? Can you take the torment that comes down on you during the testing phases (e.g. Hell Week during BUD/S)?
You also have to realize this also affects your personal life immensely. You'll be away from your family for extended periods of time, you'll have to drop what you're doing and leave on short notice, all the while, your family (i.e. wife, kids, parents) won't be aware of your whereabouts. You might miss the birth of your kids, or be unable to attend family events, birthdays, etc. That's also something you have to consider.

Check out Military.com and SOFREP. Those are two websites that'll give you a ton of wisdom from ex Special Forces, SEALs, MARSOC, etc. They are invaluable resources!

The Lawnmower of Death

During the Persian Gulf War, captured Iraqi soldiers would recount to their interrogators their fear of the "noise". As it turns out, this "noise" was the lawnmower-like whirring of the engine of a RQ-2 Pioneer drone. After the drone passed over, the Iraqi soldiers knew the massive guns of the Iowa-class battleships would send  shells hurtling their way soon after, raining death and destruction from afar. 

In one case, the Iraqis actually surrendered (no kidding!) to an RQ-2 drone. That drone is now on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Check it out, sometime!

http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A20000794000

The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday

I'm sure a lot of you, by now, have heard of, and seen the trailers for, the movie Act of Valor. It's a movie about the infamous secretive special warfare group, the US Navy SEALs, and their (fictionalized) fight against a drug-smuggler and a Chechen terrorist. Get this, the guys playing the SEALs.... are real-life active SEALs! You get an unparalleled and highly accurate insight into the way the SEALs operate. Here's the thing though, a lot of it, is in fact, extremely watered down. That's not a bad thing, I found the movie to be an instant favorite, not to mention one that drove me to tears! Watered down, as in, the movie is highly accurate, but the true way SEALs operate is kept from public view, for obvious reasons

It is an amazing testament to the sacrifice these special warfare operators make, and the fact that they're always at war in the defense of the United States. Truly amazing. I highly recommend this movie, to all of you! Take a box of tissues, or a handkerchief... you'll definitely shed a tear or two!

Uncommon Valor

Today marks the anniversary of the raising of the flag atop Mt. Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima during WWII. Arguably the most famous military photograph to have ever been taken, the second flag-raising's picture encouraged the fighting spirit of the American people and rallied the country in a renewal of efforts to support the fight of the US servicemen overseas.

Six flag raisers, six different people, five Marines and one Corpsman. Three of them died on Iwo Jima, three of them came home and toured the country as part of a war-bonds drive. All six of them had small-town upbringings, strong family values and a rigid adherence to the inherent unwritten code that set each of them as brothers in arms.

• Michael Strank, the toughened sergeant who promised he'd bring each and every one of his squad members home, whether they were alive, in pieces or deceased. 
• Doc John "Jack" Bradley, the quiet Navy Corpsman who, as all other corpsmen serving with the grunts, was considered a fellow Marine. He was awarded the Navy's second-highest honor, the Navy Cross, for his courage under fire in rescuing a fallen comrade. 
• Rene Gagnon, the handsome PFC from New Hampshire who enjoyed the fame that came upon the flag-raisers, but later regretted it towards the final years of his life. 
• Franklin Sousley, the fun-loving PFC from Kentucky, who was always down for a good prank, and loved his little family, and his brother Marines, more than anything.
• Ira Hayes, the Paramarine Corporal from a reservation in Arizona, who could never escape the ghosts of the island he fought on. 
• Harlon Block, the athletic, soft-spoken Corporal who was originally mistaken for another Paramarine, who took part in the first flag-raising.

I highly recommend you read the book, Flags of our Fathers, by James Bradley (his father, Doc Bradley was one of the flag-raisers). It is an amazing read, and gives you an unparalleled insight into the lives of these Marines and Corpsman, their sacrifice, and the demons they faced after the war. 

"That was sure a short day."

50 years ago, US Marine aviator turned NASA astronaut, John Glenn, squeezed his way into the Friendship 7 launch capsule, and a few nerve-wracking hours later, blasted off into space to become America's first astronaut to orbit the earth!

Mission Control

13 seconds into the launch, John Glenn thought it was "little bumpy along about here". This guy definitely had the right stuff!

The view from above!

The full radio transcripts can be found here: http://mercury6.spacelog.org/page/